Help on installing switches in the dashboard.

TheChucklesStart · **Posted:** Mon Aug 01, 2005 10:25 pm

How would you go about installing a switch in the dash (maybe next to the light switch that comes on the stock lightbar KJs)

I am wondering how to disassemble the dash to put in the switches for the arb locker. I have made a bracket to install their compressor inside the engine compartment.

It looks like the piece of plastic under the steering wheel folds down, how do you trigger this action or am I completley wrong?

Any other suggestions?

Thank you.

FreedomKJ · **Posted:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:10 am

The panel under the steering wheel does in fact fold down. You need to tilt your steering wheel all the way up, then reach your hand in the opening and pull towards you. It takes quite a bit of force, but just keep pulling firmly without jerking on it and you won't break anything. Once it's folded all the way down you can slide it towards the center of the Jeep and it will come off completely.

After you have that panel off it will be obvious how to remove the other trim panels.

USPLibby · **Joined:** Thu Jul 28, 2005 12:29 am **Posts:** 377

Yes pull the lower center section under the steering wheel firmly to pry off then you will be able to see what's under there.

I put two light switches on the little lower dash section to the left of that panel, near the door - it does not pop off. It is a pretty good place for switches, nothing behind there, easy to reach, out of the way and the wires are easy to feed. One of my switches sticks out pretty far and it doesn't catch on anything.

lilmatty · **Posted:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 10:25 am

You want the ARB switches where you can flip them easily; you'll encounter obstacles where you may want to turn the locker on or off in mid obstacle. Trust me on this. But not so easy to access that you hit them accidently

Mine are mounted in the dash insert to the left and right of the steering wheel. Yes, you need to pop them out and cut out holes to mount the switches. But they are right there and easy to 'flick' even while your hands are still on the steering wheel.

Compressor and left locker to the left of the wheel, right locker to the right. That way you don't even have to look to flip the desired locker.

TheChucklesStart · **Posted:** Wed Aug 03, 2005 9:29 pm

Did you just cut out in the plastic panel behind the switches?

lilmatty · **Posted:** Wed Aug 03, 2005 9:51 pm

A little bit of cutting on the right hand switch. That is, I have the compressor switch to the left of the read locker switch.

Prolly needs a pic, waddaya think?

KY Liberty · **Joined:** Sat Jul 09, 2005 1:46 pm **Posts:** 1195

We put some switches where the ash tray used to be. Looks like the belong there.

lilmatty · **Posted:** Thu Aug 04, 2005 12:48 pm

Here's my ARB switches for the rear locker. Other locker switch would go the same place but to the right of the wheel. They're in a great position to flick on and off without the hand leaving the wheel very long. Plus you can do it by feel and not have to look at it.

TheChucklesStart · **Posted:** Thu Aug 04, 2005 8:12 pm

Matt, did you have to cut anything on the console?

lilmatty · **Posted:** Thu Aug 04, 2005 8:23 pm

That little foofoo widget piece is the only cutting I did. To fit the switches.

Take that back. behind the right switch I needed to do a little plastic trimming to make room for the 4 wires coming through.

TheChucklesStart · **Posted:** Thu Aug 04, 2005 10:55 pm

My stock light bar (with a GIANT SWITCH) takes up the spot where you put yours then. Do you think it is ok to cut out more of the back pannel behind that little plate thing?

FreedomKJ · **Posted:** Thu Aug 04, 2005 11:01 pm

KY Liberty wrote:

We put some switches where the ash tray used to be. Looks like the belong there.

Hmm, yet another reason I wish they hadn't changed from two outlets and an ashtray to a cubby-hole. (The other two reasons being the desire for the two outlets and the fact that the cubby-hole thing is useless.)

I may just have to go looking for an '02 center stack...

TheChucklesStart · **Posted:** Fri Aug 05, 2005 12:04 am

I have been planning to put a ham radio in that cubby hole. That is the only thing it is good for.... well, I currently have a box of spoons in there now, but that is beside the point.

misterzero · **Joined:** Fri Jul 08, 2005 3:37 am **Posts:** 117

That cubby hole is a perfect fit.

For my cell phone.

hankwood · **Posted:** Fri Aug 05, 2005 1:36 pm

i like the box of spoons idea. i'm just not sure why...

CaKJFreedom · **Posted:** Sun Aug 07, 2005 11:55 pm

The cubby holds a pack of gum pretty well. An ashtray would be way cooler. That would let me take the change out of the Altoid tin in the center counsel. Oooohh and to dream of two outlets up front. That's what I get for waiting and getting an '03 I suppose.

Cacher123 · **Posted:** Mon Aug 08, 2005 12:38 am

Is it possible to purchase/retrofit the older style lower console section (with the two outlets and the ash tray)? I have an 03 Rennie which has only 1 outlet (cigarette lighter) and I have to use a Y-adapter to power my laptop and my gps. 2 outlets would be much nicer.

FreedomKJ · **Posted:** Mon Aug 08, 2005 1:11 am

The lower section (ashtray and outlets or cubby-hole and outlet) is part of the entire radio surround. You shouldnt have any problem at all swapping them out, but you will of course have to do some minor wiring to get both outlets to work.

TheChucklesStart · **Posted:** Mon Aug 08, 2005 9:55 pm

Does any one know which wires are the ignition and which ones would be the dashboard light. I need to tie into these to install the switches and compressor wiring.

On another note, I have been thinking about this too much. This morning I had a dream that I was looking at how someone else had installed these ARB switches and I went over to there house, where there liberty was inside (acting like a bookshelf).

I then proceeded to look on top of their dashboard, which they had turned into a removable shelf (kind of like the all J thing) and forgot entirely that I was there to look at switches. They kinda got irritated at me for wasting there time, so I started looking at their switches.

I dismantled their dash (by this time we are now in a park due to the magic of dreams) and I took out the little plastic piece on which their switches were placed. I then proceed to ask him a question about how long it took him to do all of the things he had done to his jeep. To which he responded, "WHY CAN'T PEOPLE JUST UNDERSTAND I JUST WANT TO BE LEFT ALONE!!!!"

I then looked back at the switches on the piece of plastic.... and then the alarm went off.

When I had woken up a little bit, but not enough to realize I was dreaming, I cursed myself for not looking to see if he had cut into the dash any.

I guess that is what you get when you go to sleep after working hard on getting things installed and you plan on working on it even more when you wake up.

lilmatty · **Posted:** Mon Aug 08, 2005 10:04 pm

I was getting to involved with jackassing around with the wiring and standing on my head to look under the dash when I took the easy way out of the ign and dash light problem. I pulled the two ARB wires out to the fuse side of the fuse panel, tinned the stranded wires such that it looks like a thin spade lug and then just stuck that into the fuse socket along with the fuse. Easy and a very solid connection. Be sure to place it on the fused side of the connection; I verified that with a volt meter.

Help on installing switches in the dashboard.

Who is online